LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



THE SPIRIT OF THE PINE 



ESTHER B. TIFFANY. 



ILLUSTRATED BY , 



WILLIAM S. TIFFANY. 





BOSTON, U. S. A. 

L. PRANG AND COMPANY. 






Copyright, 1890, 
Bv L. Pkang & Co., Boston, U. S. A. 



THE SPIRIT OF THE PINE. 



a Cbiistmas fIDasquc. 



CHARACTERS. 

THE SPIRIT OF THE PINE. " THE SPIRITS OF THE STARS. 

QUEEN OF NIGHT. ' ELVES AND GNOMES. 

A BROTHER AND SISTER. 



\TIic curtain risim;^, disclosis, in n star-lit ivoodlaiid ilfariii<r. a yoimo; pijic-trce. Siunv 
covers the ground. Enter a little Ivotlier and sister poorly clad. They carry sprigs 
of l/olly.] 

Brother. See, sister ! 

Si.sti:r. What ? 

Brothkk. That beautiful little pine-tree ! Think how it would look all lit 

up with candles ! 

Sister. If we could only carry it home ! 

Brothkr. And cover it with gold apples and toys ! 

SiSTKR. And lighted candles ! 

Brother. And on the very tip, — what would you put on the very tip ? 



4 



The Spirit of the Tine. 



Sister. Oh, a great gleaming star, like one of those up in the sky. 

Brother. Does Christmas come only for rich people, sister ? 

Sister. Why ! have n't we a bit of Christmas in our hands this very 

minute ? 
Brother. This holly ? Oh, but I should so like a beautiful loaded tree. 

I think I should n't mind being cold and hungry, if I only 

had a beautiful tree. 
Sister. (^Knecls.^ Kneel down here by me. 

Brother. Are you going to pray, — out here in the snow ? 
Sister. I want to show you something. Look at the little tree ! 

Brother. 1 'm looking. 
Sister. See, now that we are so low, how it stands out against the sky ; 

and it looks as if the stars were hanging on its branches. 
Brother. Like candles on a lighted Christmas tree ! 
Sister. And see that great shining star right over the top ! 

Brother. If we could only carry the tree home, stars and all ! 
Sister. Come, it is growing cold. 

Brother. {^Stretching out arms.) Oh, you dear little tree ! 
Sister Come, darling. 

Brother. With the star above you! Oh. you dear little tree, — our home 

is so cold and bare, — come with us ! Oh, bring your 

stars with you, and come ! 
Sister. Mother will be looking for us. 

Brother. [Kissing pine.) Good by, little tree, good by! 
Sister. Good b\-, little tree ! \^Exeunt. 



'The Spirit of the Pine. 



\_Enlcr the Spirits of the Stars. Tlicy arc clad in pale gold robes, and locar stars 

upon their foreheads. ] 

The Spirits of the Stars. Spirits of the stars are we, 

That on joyous wing, 
Bear to-night, 
From Heaven's height, 
Greetinos from our Kino-. 
Flood we with our rapturous song. 
All the spaces wide, 
Chant on earth, 
The wondrous birth 
Of the Glorified. 
Spirits of the stars are we, 
That on joyous wing, 
Bear to-night. 
From Heaven's heio-ht. 
Greeting from our King. 

[From amid the branches of the pine appears the Spirit of the Pine, clad in pale green, 

and garlanded.^ 

Spirit of Pine. Hail, spirits of the stars 

Stars. Soul of the pine, 

All hail, the heavens greet thee ; Spirit, hail ! 



6 



The Spirit of tljc Pine. 



Spirit of Pine. 



Oh, spirits of the blessed stars, 

O'er sleeping town and spire, 

All night upon your golden cars 

Ye ride, a shining choir ; 

All night in homage, as you go. 

My yearning arms I lift. 

When white the earth with winter's snow. 

Or pink with rosy drift 

Of spring-time blossoms, scattered wide, 

And scenting dale and hill ; 

O'er Heaven's plain I watch you glide. 

Serene, majestic, still. 



First Star. Dear Spirit, gentle Spirit of the Pine, 

Not so remote the starry ways of Heaven 
But we have marked thee. Very dear to us 
The incense of thy branches. Ere we go, 
Ask on this blessed eve a Christmas boon. 
And we will grant it to thee as of old. 



Spirit of Pine.^ 



Oh, spirits of the upper air. 

Where here ye radiant stand. 

There knelt but now in childish prayer 

Two children, hand in hand ; 

Gleamed all about me as I stood. 

The winter stars o'erhead. 



The Spirit of tlje Pine. 



" Ah, could we take thee from the wood, 

Dear tree," the children said, 

" Thee, and the pretty shining lights 

That on thy branches glow ! " 

Oh, spirits of the azure heights, 

I pray you, let me go ! 

First Star. Dear Spirit, if thou goest, thou must die. 

Spirit of Pink. What, die, and leave this lovely earth ? 

Second Star. Alas ! 

Thus it is willed in the decrees of heaven ! 



[Spirit of tlie Pine looks towards Jieaven, and lifts lier hands. Gazes about lingcringly. 

Clasps the branches of the little tree.^ 

Spirit of Pine. Oh, branches dear, farewell ! 



Stars 



What, thou wilt die ! 



Spirit of Pine. 



Oh, timid rill. 
That shrink'st away 
From winter's chill ; 
Oh, birds of May. 
Oh, slumberino- flowers, 



The Spirit of tfje Tine. 



Whose iris train 
Wild April's showers 
Will wake again — 
Sleep dulls your ears, 
Sleep seals your eyes. 
Ye have no tears 
For her who dies. 



Stars. 



Alas, and thou wilt eo ! 



Spirit of Pine. 



O elf! O fay! 
O delving- gnome ! O rainbow-winged sprite I 

That dance away 
The moonlit hours of the shadowy night, 
The scarlet bells that stud the sombre yew 

Ring for my knell. 
Dear Spirits — oh, beloved woodland crew — 

Farewell ! 



\_Enter Elves and Gnomes. The Gnomes are clad in brozvu jerkins and carry axes.'\ 



First Gnome. 



In the caverns of the ground, 

Winter bound, 
Dig we out the veined gold, 
Tend the shoots, that from the cold 

Shrink in fear. 
Lo ! you called us ; we are here. 



TIjc Spirit of tljc Tine. 



First Star. 



First Elf. 



The spirit of the pine would hence. Be yours 
The hand to speed your sister on her way. 



Elves and Gnomes. Alas ! 



Do not leave us, little sister, 
Little sister, do not leave us ; 
Grateful is the shade thou givest us, 
Sweet the incense of thy branches ; 
Sweet the sones the winds of autumn 
Harp upon thy swaying branches. 



Elves and Gnomes. Little sister, little sister, 

Do not leave us, little sister ! 



Stars. 



The steeds that to our cars we bind, 
Impatient paw the frosty air, 
Impatient neigh to join their kind. 
Soul of the pine, prepare. 



[T/ic Spirit of tin- Piiic takes fairivcll of the Giiouics and Elvcs?^ 
Spirit ok Pine. Swift, gentle elves, your task ! 



\Gnoiiies take liold of the hem of her dress and implore Iter, loitli gestures, not to leave 
them. She shakes her head and points to the tree. They lift their axes. At the 
first stroke, the Spirit of the Pine trembles, then falls on her knees ; the Stars 
gather about and support her. As the tree falls, her head sinks.] 



lo The Spirit of tbe Tine. 



Spirit of Pine. My tears forgive, and all my fond lamenting. 

In peace I go — farewell I 

Elves and Gnomes. Farewell ! 

Second Elf. Her face 

Is shining even as your starry selves ! 



[Elves and Gnomes gatiier about Jicr!\ 

Elves and Gnomes. She is gone, our little sister, 
Gone forever is our sister, 
Mute the music of her branches, 
Bare the ground her fragrant shadows 
Sheltered in the glare of summer ; 
She is gone, our little sister ; 
Peace be with thee, little sister ! 



[Enter Queen of the Night in starry raiment. She wears a crescent on her brozu, and 

carries a zvand. All bow before her.\ 

Queen of Night. Who, like a bruised flower, lieth here 
Before my feet ? 

Third Star. The Spirit of the Pine. 



Queen. 



r/v spirit of tl^e Tine. 



Who willed it thus? 



// 



Second Star. 



Herself, that she might fill 
The simple longing of a childish heart. 



OuEEN OF Night. 



Doth not the violet, 
Adroop in heaven's fierce ray, 
Lift, 'neath my wings of humid gray. 
Revived, her eyes of blue, all dewy wet ? 

So thou, beneath my wing 
Oh, creep, thou tender bruised bud. Arise, 

Unseal thine eyes ; 
Join the bright choirs, and lift thy voice and sing. 



[The Queen takes a star from her robe, and binds it upon t lie forehead of the Spirit of the 
Pine. They throw a starry mantle about her. 



Stars, Elves, and Gnomes. Hail ! hail ! new-born star, 

Soon in golden car 
-Shalt thou ride o'er heaven's plains, 
Shalt thou guide the shining reins, 

Afar, afar. 
Hail, new-born star ! 



12 The Spirit of the Pine. 



[ T/ic curtain falls. Rising again it discovers a lighted tree, surrounded by the Queen of 
NigJit and the Spirits of the Stars. Among them, the Spirit of the Pine, now the 
Spirit of a Star, Elves and Gnomes. The brother and sister kneel in axoe. The 
Spirits of the Stars hold them by the hand and point at the tree. Carol : " We 
Three Kings." ] 

Carol. 

Once in fiery splendor clad, 
Knelt before the shepherd lad, 
Knelt to Joseph as their King, 
Planets, marvelling. 

Lord of angels. Lord of men ! 
Race of glory, now as then ! 
Ever sounding. 
Still resounding, 
Echoes wide the glad Amen. 

Low, in starry majesty. 
Bow the heavens at the knee 
Of the meek-eyed Babe divine, 
Last of Joseph's line. 

Lord of angels, Lord of men ! 
Race of glory, now as then ! 
Ever sounding, 
Still resounding, 
Echoes wide the world's Amen. 



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